Highway marking device



April 4, 1967 M. D. PELLOWSKI HIGHWAY MARKING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1966 I NVEN TOR. MA PK Q. PELL 0 wsm United States Patent ()fiiice 3,312,156 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,156 HIGHWAY MARKING DEVICE Mark D. Pellowski, 411 Hamilton,

Winona, Minn. 55987 Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 564,498 3 Claims. (Cl. 941.5)

This is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 357,161, filed Apr. 3, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to roadway or trafiic marking devices, and more particularly, it relates to a novel resilient highway marking device for visibly and audibly signalling the location of traflic lanes, highway centerlines, and the like.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a highway marking device which is designed and constructed for resiliency at all points throughout its length whereby to provide ready flexibility upon impact from vehicles travelling along the roadway, and which will instantly return to its upright position after being released or freed from engagement by the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a highway marking device which includes a normally upright strip element adapted for positioning along the centerline and shoulders of a roadway to clearly and impressively outline or delineate traflic lanes along the highway.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a highway marking device which is designed and constructed for visibility in all kinds of weather, and which will also remain visible and readily flexible or resilient with a covering of deep snow upon the highway.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a highway marking device comprising an elongated resilient and transversely curved metal strip which will be temporarily deformed transversely and produce a loud noise when struck by a vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a highway marking device comprising an elongated strip element which is arcuate in cross section whereby to increase its resiliency and durability throughout long periods of continued use and under adverse conditions of repeated impact from vehicles travelling along the highway.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a highway marking device which includes an elongated strip element imbedded within a recess in a roadway by means of a plug of hardenable material defining arcuate surfaces extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the strip element whereby to permit free flexibility of the strip element upon impact from vehicles.

Other objects of this invention reside in the provision of a highway marking device which may be manufactured and installed at a cost considerably less than previously known devices; which includes a resilient strip element having a coating of fluorescent material on the upper end portion thereof for increasing the visibility of the device under adverse weather conditions; and in which a novel method is utilized for anchoring the strip elements at spaced locations along the roadway.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification, attached claims and appended drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the highway marking devices of the present invention as installed along the centerline of the highway;

FIG. 2 is a view in top plan of one of the marking devices;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and showing a deflected position of the strip element by dotted lines; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 butshowing the marking devices installed along the shoulders of the highway as well as the centerline.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the highway marking devices of the present invention installed at spaced locations along the centerline 1 of a highway. For purposes of illustration, it may be noted that the highway marking devices may be spaced at intervals of approximately feet.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, detail of the individual marking devices are shown therein, and it will be noted that the same comprises an elongated strip element normally disposed in a generally vertical position and represented generally by the reference numeral 2. The strip element 2 is preferably formed from a resilient sheet material, such as thin spring steel for example. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the strip element 2 is arcuate in cross section whereby to increase its resiliency and tendency to return nearly instantly to its upright position after being released by a vehicle coming into contact with the same. The stop is of suflicient height to be struck by the bumper or the front and/ or under part of the vehicle and because of its resiliently and transversely curved construction will be bent over and caused to vibrate to repeatedly strike the under parts of the vehicle and thus produce a loud noise to thereby warn the driver of danger as the vehicle is driven over the strip.

The lower end portion 3 of the strip element 2 is adapted for rigid securement in the roadway, whereby the strip element 2 is normally disposed in a generally upright position, as shown particularly in the drawings. The lower end portion 3 of the strip element 2 is mounted or secured within the roadway in a novel manner. A recess 4 is drilled or otherwise formed in the surface of the highway, as shown particularly in FIG. 3. Then, the lower end portion 3 of the strip element 2 is positioned within the recess 4, and a hardenable material 5, such as a thermal setting plastic or concrete for example, is poured within the recess 4 to generally fill the same. Prior to curing or hardening of the material 5, the strip element 2 is flexed or bent over in opposite directions to a generally horizontal condition whereby to form arcuate surfaces 6 which extend outwardly from the opposite sides of the strip element 2, as shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. These arcuate surfaces 6 are provided for the purpose of eliminating a sharp edge adjacent to the strip element 2 which would otherwise be formed. With the arcuate surfaces 6, the strip element 2 may be flexed or bent more easily, and the life and durability of the strip element 2 is greatly increased. By using the strip as a tool the arcuate surfaces are tailored to the characteristics of the individual strips which characteristics may not be identical in resilience and shape due to manufacturing tolerances or may be made of different noise making materials.

The upper end portion 7 is provided with a coating 8 of fluorescent material or the like for increasing the suitability of the strip elements 2 under adverse weather conditions and at night. The strip elements 2 may be provided with various coatings 8 of diifering colors for delineation of various traffic lanes. For example, the color of the coating on the protected inside of the arcuate surface can be different from the color on the outside of the surface. Also, the coating on arcuate surfaces is protected from obliteration due to being struck by a vehicle since the reflecting or other signal material on the inside of the curve is protected by the edges and the material on the outside can be destroyed only along one line at a time.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the marking devices may be located adjacent the opposite shoulders of the traific lanes, as desired in some installations. Further, in some installations, it may be desirable to provide the strip elements 2 at the opposite shoulders of the highway as shown in FIG. 4 with coatings 8 on the upper end portions thereof of colors differing from the coating upon the strip element 2 positioned along the centerline 1.

Having described preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the same may be modified without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A highway marking and warning device comprising a narrow elongated strip of arcuate spring steel, means for securing and supporting one end of the strip in the roadway with the width of the strip being transverse to the length of the roadway and the height of the strip above the roadway being suflicient to strike the underparts of a vehicle whereby to produce a warning noise, said supporting and securing means including arcuate surfaces for supporting the strip when flexed.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the securing and supporting means comprises a plug of hardenable material.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the arcuate surfaces are curves which follow the natural flexure of the strip whereby the strip can be supported along the entire curve when flexed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,913 12/1917 Reed.

1,773,487 8/1930 Hines 94-1.5 2,489,499 11/1949 Pellar 94-1 X 2,961,731 11/1960 Buzzell et a1 9418 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,094,128 12/1954 France. 1,189,250 3/1959 France.

376,139 3/ 1964 Switzerland.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HIGHWAY MARKING AND WARNING DEVICE COMPRISING A NARROW ELONGATED STRIP OF ARCUATE SPRING STEEL, MEANS FOR SECURING AND SUPPORTING ONE END OF THE STRIP IN THE ROADWAY WITH THE WIDTH OF THE STRIP BEING TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTH OF THE ROADWAY AND THE HEIGHT OF THE STRIP ABOVE THE ROADWAY BEING SUFFICIENT TO STRIKE THE UNDERPARTS OF A VEHICLE WHEREBY TO PRODUCE A WARNING NOISE, SAID SUPPORTING AND SECURING MEANS INCLUDING ARCUATE SURFACES FOR SUPPORTING THE STRIP WHEN FLEXED. 